Inside the Makers Workshop: A Little Weather

Every day, I receive emails from makers and artists near and far. I delight in those little narrations of work and love. In November Jessica Green emailed me and if an email could be a testament to kindred spirits, this was the one. Without further ado, please allow me to introduce you to Jessica, homesteader, handweaver and a gal after my own heart.

"A Little Weather was created by me, Jessica Green, a hand weaver who recently moved to a homestead of her very own in wild and perfect Appalachia. I have an amazing studio in an old highschool on a magical island where I do all of my weaving —on both a 16 shaft AVL loom and an 8 shaft Norwood. I am 100% committed to handwork (I use no electricity in my weavings: my looms are hand looms, I hem by hand...). I only use natural materials; primarily fine wools, cotton, and linen. I maintain a strong resolution to use 100% American fiber as I can. All my wool is grown and milled in Oregon, New England and Western North Carolina, and my cotton is sourced in New Mexico, California and Sweet North Caroline as well. "

"Each one of my blankets begins with the seed of a traditional colonial coverlet as inspiration which I build off of to discover a draft that feels like my own retelling of the past. The integrity of two continuous strands making their way through each other, over and under, is both what constructs the blanket itself- but also what brings a threadbare history back into consideration. I hold a longtime interest in colonial American history, particularly the colonial woman. I am moved by traditional “women's work," and aim to tend the flame of household weaving to keep that art alive and remembered. It is my hope that each of my pieces will carry the essence of hard work, essential usefulness, and good design which were the priorities that early American hand weavers set out to uphold. There is great merit in following in the footsteps of those who came before us, and I find deep satisfaction in carrying on an ancient art form that links nearly every culture that has ever existed. I am so honored and excited to breathe new life into this tradition, and help these re-imagined heirlooms bring beauty and history into modern households."